Come & See (1985)

Film: Come & See

Director: Elem Klimov

Country: Russia

Released: July 1985

Runtime: 142 minutes

Genre: War Film

Studio: Belarusfilm, Mosfilm

Influenced: Terrence Malick, Christopher Nolan, Bong Joon-ho, Paul Thomas Anderson, Gaspar Noé

Elem Klimov's Come and See ("Idi i Smotri") is one of the most powerful and harrowing depictions of war ever put to film. The movie tells the story of a young Belarusian boy, Florya, who experiences the brutal reality of World War II as he joins partisans to fight against the Nazi occupation. The film was inspired by the novel Ivan by Vladimir Koval, which was based on the real-life experiences of Soviet partisans during WWII. Director Elem Klimov and his co-writer, Ales Adamovich, adapted the novel into a screenplay, seeking to portray the horrors of war from the perspective of an innocent child.

The film is set in German-occupied Byelorussian SSR in 1943. Florya, a young and enthusiastic boy, dreams of joining the local partisans in their resistance against the Nazi forces. When he finds an old rifle, he becomes determined to be part of the fight. The partisan leader reluctantly allows Florya to join their unit. As Florya becomes more involved in the resistance, he witnesses the atrocities of war and faces the cruelty of the Nazi soldiers. The film becomes a nightmarish odyssey, as Florya experiences death, destruction and the loss of his innocence. The violence and horror escalate, and he is forced to confront the inhumanity of war and the dehumanisation of both the perpetrators and the victims.

The discovery of a massacre site where Florya witnesses the dead bodies of civilians, including a young girl clutching a doll, is one of the film's most iconic and harrowing moments. We also have to witness the infamous "sacrificial cow" scene, where the Nazis force villagers into a church before setting it on fire. Some light relief is provided by Florya's encounter with Glasha, a girl around his age who also joins the partisans, providing a brief respite from the horrors. However, the film closes with a surreal and nightmarish finale, where Florya witnesses the destruction of a village and the inhumane treatment of its survivors by the Nazis.

Come and See stands out for its innovative and groundbreaking cinematography and storytelling techniques. Elem Klimov and his cinematographer, Aleksei Rodionov, used a handheld camera and a combination of naturalistic and dream-like visuals to immerse the audience in Florya's perspective. The film received critical acclaim upon its release, both domestically and internationally, winning numerous awards, including the Golden Prize at the 1985 Moscow International Film Festival. The film's influence can be seen in subsequent war films, with its gritty realism and unflinching portrayal of violence setting a standard for the genre. Many consider it an essential entry in the canon of anti-war cinema. The film's artistic and emotional power make it one of the most haunting and powerful war films ever made.